Apparatus for placer-mining



No. 6|9,647. Patented Feb. l4, I399. G. WETHERBY.

APPARATUS FOR PLACER MINING.

(Application filed Feb. 1, 1898.)

No Model.)-

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

GEORGE WETHERBY, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

APPARATUS FOR PLACER-MINING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,647, dated February14, 1899.

Application filed February 1, 1898. Serial No. 668,777. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WETHERBY, a citizen of the United States,residing. at the city of Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Use in Placer-Mining; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use inplacer-mining; and it consists,essentially, of a steam-boiler,asteamconveyer, and a rack or holder therefor.

The invention further consists in a hose or steam-conveyer extendingfrom a source of steam-supply to the point at which the steam is to beapplied to the frozen material for the purpose of disintegratingthe sameand a suitable mechanical means whereby the said hose is held inposition during the operation and can be moved or adjusted to bring thesaid hose to difierent positions for use.

The invention further consists in the novel construction and arrangementof the parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my invention, showing themanner of arranging the same for use. Fig. 2 is a detail of thehose-supporting bracket, showing the hose and nozzle mounted thereon.Fig. 3 is a detail.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A in dioates a furnace, and B aboiler thereon.

O is a flexible hose or steam-conveyer provided with a suitable nozzleand adapted to convey steam from the boiler to the point stop 01 for thepurpose of preventing said rod d sinking too deep into the ground.

d is a brace-rod secured upon the rod cl at about the middle of itslength and having its other end connected to the rod (1 by a slidingcollar d and jam -nut d whereby said sliding collar may beset at anydesired point on the rod and locked. Secured to the forward end of therod (1 are legs (1 01 Each of these legs (1 consists of two parts joinedtogether by a sliding collar d for the purpose of permitting thelengthening orshortening thereof, as may be desired. At the rear andforward ends of the rod d are semicircular holders e e, secured theretofor the purpose of receiving and vholding the hose and nozzle. 6 e arestraps secured at one side of the semicircular holders e e and adaptedto pass over the hose when placed therein and to be fastened to theopposite side thereof for the purpose of holding said hose or conveyerto the bracket and in working position. E is a sliding semicircularholder adapted to slide along said rod d to support the hose atdifierent points, as may be desired. This sliding semicircular holder isprovided with a suitable jam-nut e for the purpose of securing orlooking the same to the rod d, as is apparent.

The operation of my device is as follows: Fire having been started inthe furnace and steam gotten up, the hose is connected with the boilerand carried to the point where it is desired to loosen up anddisintegrate the frozen earth. It is then placed upon the bracket D andsecured thereon, the bracket being adjusted to the proper position. Wheneverythingis in readiness, the steam is turned on from the boiler,passing through said hose or conveyer andout against the frozen earth,heating the same and causing it to expand and disintegrate.

This invention is designed for use when mining in hillsides, banks ofearth, &c., and is found to be admirably adapted for such purposes.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is

In an apparatus for use in placer-mining for loosening dirt ordisintegrating hard or sliding brace d conneoting said rod 01 and frozenearth by means of steam, the combileg (1, and the extensible legs (1, 01as set nation of a suitable steam-supply and a conforth.

veyer or hose for delivering said steam to the GEORGE VVETHERBY. 5desired point, witha hose-support consisting In presence ofof a rod clhaving at each end thereof selni- GEO. F. DAVIS,

circular holders 6, e, a forked leg cl and a J. A. PAYNE.

